Tuesday, December 6, 2011

I had a great
trip to Indianapolis in September
and discovered some of the plans the city was making to get ready for the 2012
Super Bowl. I couldn’t wait to return to the city and I had my opportunity when
I received an assignment from American Way Magazine. Once I was there I had a chance to explore some more things to see,
do and eat.

Goose the
Market is famous for their bacon, and even has a Bacon of the Month Club (Apple
Cider and Brandy, anyone?). They offer a few different sandwiches each day and
I settled on The Goose, made with Prosciutto di Parma, basil, fresh mozzarella
and extra virgin olive oil. I only had a few bites of the delicious concoction
when we were also given some fresh cheese and meat platters, with treats such
as Midnight Run goat’s milk cheese, tomato preserves, Calibrese (100% pork with
paprika) and a homemade Black Forest Ham. It all went down very well with a
glass of Australian Semillon, one of nearly 100 types of wine they have in
addition to at least 60 beer choices.

After lunch,
Evan took me through town and told me about the Sky Walks that connect the
Convention Center, Circle Centre Mall and a dozen hotels to Lucas Oil Stadium
so almost everywhere you go in Indy (including Lucas Oil Stadium) can be
reached in climate control comfort. We also drove by a few of the murals being
designed in the 46 for XLVI project done by the Arts Council of Indianapolis before I was dropped at Studio 2000 for a massage.

I enjoyed the
massage, but I also liked the nostalgia of the place in the Circle Tower, which
has great views of Monument Circle available to those getting their hair done. It’s
full of nifty nostalgic pieces, such as remnants of the architectural firm it
was in the 1920s and chairs from the barbershop it then became.

Cocktails were
at a new establishment, The Libertine.
Neal Brown, a well-known Indianapolis restaurateur, just opened this place with
a focus on cocktails and small plates. (This is another meat lovers paradise,
they have a Bacon Flight on the bar menu!) The bartenders are knowledgeable and
make suggestions. I had a Dark & Stormy with Goslings Black Seal and Evan
enjoyed The Vesper, a James Bond favorite made here with Billicoat Gin, Penin
Vodka and Lillet Blanc.

We had a
delicious dinner at the elegantly comfortable Meridian Restaurant. I was really impressed with the preparation of
Chef
Dan Dunville and it appears I’m not alone as Indianapolis Colts like Peyton
Manning make this place a regular stop.

I settled in with a glass of the 2009 Babich New
Zealand Sauvignon Blanc and a dish of Potato Gnocchi with mushrooms, tomato,
bacon, spinach, golden raisins and squash. It was absolutely delicious and hard
to top when the Osso Bucco and the Wild Boar Parpadelle came, but we did manage
to enjoy it all, even sampling a little of the unbelievable desserts, which included
a Banana Tart with Macadamia Nuts & Caramel.

After a good night’s sleep, Morgan from the Visit Indy picked me up and we talked some
more about the upcoming Super Bowl. I learned that this event will have more
possible NFL competitors within a five hour drive than any in history. A Super
Bowl Village will be created for 10 days for parties and activities, including zip
lining through the streets. Madonna will be singing at halftime and a host of
other celebrities will be attending and performing. In all, the city expects
150,000 people – and only half will be in the stadium.

I was rather excited about the prospect of
heading into a private tour of Lucas Oil Stadium and was quite impressed. There’s
something about standing in the middle of this huge empty place that just
currently has a “Home of Super Bowl 2012” sign and will have the attention of
millions from around the world in a few months.

We took a walk through White River Park, which is
home to eight museums and lots of activities in the spring and summer, including
gondola rides through the canal. I
dedicated a good part of my career to writing fulltime about tennis so I loved a
walk through the NCAA Hall of Fame. I was able to spot quite a few names
recorded in there of players I know, including the dedication to the last school
to sweep singles, doubles and team championships, my very own Fighting Illini
(2003).

Before heading home, Morgan and I had a wonderful
lunch just outside of town at Trader’s Point Creamery. It’s a great place to bring the kids (or be a kid with
sleigh rides and caroling) through the farm, but it also has a phenomenal
restaurant attached. I had some of their famous hot chocolate and a grilled
cheese sandwich with avocado. Lindsay, the cheese maker, came by with some
delicious samples of Gouda, raw milk cheese and feta, then we finished it up
with a bit of their homemade ice cream (caramel and chocolate make a wonderful combo).

I’m not sure yet if I will make it to any of the
festivities for Super Bowl 2012, but I
will certainly be back. One of the reasons I moved to the Midwest was the fact
that I would have the opportunity to visit so many places nearby without
worrying about traffic and tolls. Indianapolis is definitely one of those
cities and I have a feeling there’s a lot more to discover there.